People bring loads of complaints at RCB public hearing

Most grievances about water, power, encroachment issues

RAWALPINDI: People cried out loud during a public hearing over the pathetic state of services in Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB).

The residents of the cantonment complained about electricity, water supply, street lights, lack of cleanliness arrangements, billing and revenue in the cantonment areas.

Similarly, most of the complaints were related to encroachment in the cantonment areas.

RCB Executive Officer Sibtain Raza issued instructions on around 40 per cent cases while summoned reports of others. His orders included cleanliness of Eid prayer grounds, funeral grounds, procurement of electricity connections and such.

As the public rush increased, Raza said it was impossible to deal with all problems in such a short time. He asked citizens to provide written complaint along with their phone numbers.

RCB Vice-President Malik Munir Ahmed also reached katcheri with complaints about elected members.

Addressing the public there, Raza said that RCB had 52,000 water connections at the moment while 9 million gallons per day (MGD) was supplied from Khanpur Dam. He told the public that only 42 of 58 tube-wells were operational while underground water supplies were dwindling. He said that RCB would try to acquire water from Rawal Dam and from Chuhan Dam in future.

He asked public to reach him personally with evidence if any cantonment worker demanded bribe from them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2019.